How Social Media Is Rewiring Our Brains [Video]

Social media is rewiring our brains. The latest video from the folks at AsapSCIENCE looks at how social media use is affecting our own physiology. In one study, almost 90 percent of people experienced phantom vibrations from their smartphone in the last two weeks. Our brains are starting to perceive an itch for a text! Some other takeaways from the video:

On addiction: Five to 10 percent of Internet users are unable to control their Internet use. Brain scans show similarities between those suffering from Internet addiction and those who are addicted to substances.

On multitasking: Heavy media users were worse at task-switching tests. According to the video, “Increased multitasking online reduces your brain’s ability to filter out interferences, and can even make it harder for your brain to commit information to memory.”

On self-involvement: Studies have shown that talking about yourself is more rewarding than listening to others. Thirty to 40 percent of our real-life conversations are self-involved, compared to 80 percent of our social media communications. It’s even more rewarding when you have a lot of followers.

On relationships: There is a “statistical increase in partnerships that started online.” While scientists are unable to say why, partners liked each other more when they met on the Web, compared to meeting in real life.

For more insights on the effects of social media on the brain, check out the video below: